Chevy Bolt vs. Volt: Chevrolet’s electrified models explained

Despite having similar names and a similar reliance on electricity, the Chevy Bolt and Volt are not at all the same car. To highlight the differences between these two vehicles, we compared them across several categories, allowing us to get a feel for the technology and features driving each model.

Bolt, Volt. Chevrolet’s two electrified models sound a lot alike but they’re completely different cars. The Bolt is an all-electric car, meaning it does not run on gasoline and relies exclusively on electricity to move forward.

Now in its second generation, the Volt is a plug-in hybrid car equipped with a four-cylinder engine that takes over when the battery runs out of electricity. If you’re not sure which one to choose, read on for our Chevy Bolt vs. Volt comparison highlighting design, technology, performance, and safety.

TECH FEATURES

An electric car is, by definition, a high-tech vehicle. To that end, even the base version of the Bolt comes with a 10.2-inch touchscreen integrated in the dashboard, Bluetooth connectivity, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatibility. Music plays through a six-speaker sound system.

Chevrolet also bundles in a 4G LTE connection, though it’s only active if users pay extra for a data plan, and Chevrolet Connected Access, which gives the driver access to an array of useful information including vehicle diagnostics and dealer maintenance notifications.

The Volt offers the same level of standard equipment, though its touchscreen is a smaller eight-inch unit. In terms of tech features, both models stand proud near the top of their respective segments.

PERFORMANCE AND FUEL ECONOMY

All electric, the Bolt uses a 60-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 150-kW motor. In more familiar terms, the hatchback produces 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Its 3,580-pound weight makes it rather portly for a compact car, though it’s on the lighter side of the spectrum for an electric car. Chevrolet quotes a range of up to 238 miles but your mileage will vary depending on how you drive, where you live, and what you routinely carry.

Chevrolet quotes a range of up to 238 miles in the all-electric Bolt but your mileage will vary depending on how you drive, where you live, and what you routinely carry. The hybrid Volt provides a useful 420-mile range before needing to fill up or stop for a charge.

Charging times are ballpark estimates, too. Chevrolet says a full charge takes approximately nine hours when using a 240-volt home charger but about 24 hours when the Bolt draws electricity at the rate of four drivable miles per hour through a standard 120-volt outlet. Fast-charging stations can zap the battery pack with about 90 miles of range in 30 minutes.

The main part of the Volt’s plug-in hybrid drivetrain consists of a pair of electric motors that jointly deliver 149 hp and 294 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels. They draw electricity from a 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that stores enough juice to power the car for up to 53 miles. If your commute is shorter than that, you could theoretically never have to put gasoline in it.

Thanks for reading about Chevy Bolt vs. Volt. For additional information please contact our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit our website.

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Chevrolet now lets you pay for Shell gas right from the driver’s seat

Hate having to fumble for your wallet or plastic payment card just to get some gas in your tank? Chevrolet and Shell know your pain and have developed a solution. You can now pay for gas without even touching your wallet, but you still have to step outside to fill up your car’s gas tank.

That means you won’t have to dig out cash or your credit card and insert it into the smelly gas pump when you fill up. All you have to do is press the Shell logo within the Marketplace suite on the car’s infotainment touchscreen, then select the nearest station for fill-up. The app generates an activation code that the user punches in at the pump. Then, all one has to do is begin pumping gas, and the payment is automatically charged using the method on file. And it even keeps track of your Shell Fuel Rewards savings!

Sounds pretty convenient. And although it’s one less step for the user to do outside of the vehicle, one still has to brave the outdoors to actually pump gas into the vehicle. That is, unless you live in a full-service gas station state like New Jersey or Oregon.

“We introduced Marketplace to deliver value, productivity and convenience to our customers,” said Rick Ruskin, Chevrolet’s senior manager for Online Commerce, in an official statement. “Bringing the Shell Pay & Save functionality right on the touchscreen of our vehicles is the latest advancement of this platform, allowing drivers to simply access Fuel Rewards and pay for gas while inside their car.”

The Shell Pay & Save feature joins Chevrolet MyLink Marketplace and other convenient features such as integrated services for ordering at food establishments, dinner reservation assistance, hotel and parking accommodation services, and more.

The in-dash payment system is currently only available through Shell-branded gas stations in select markets. A nationwide rollout is expected over the next several months and will be available on all Chevrolet models from model year 2017 and newer. This feature is only available in the United States.

Want to know more? Call our customer care team at 630-898-9630. Or, visit us online at http://www.WestphalChevy.com.

Source: Chevrolet now lets you pay for Shell gas right from the driver’s seat

2019 Chevy Cruze

It’s becoming more difficult to find suitable mounting points for license plates on the front of new cars. Case in point: the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze sedan and hatchback, which follow the big-grille trend, expanding it further into the bumper. The new grille also sports a curvaceous and highly textured structure that looks too pretty to obscure with a plate.

If you have any questions about the 2019 Chevrolet models, please call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630.

The new front styling more or less parallels the one on the also revised 2019 Malibu and is the most obvious change to the 2019 Cruze. Other changes for 2019 don’t fuss with this compact’s successful visual formula, which has been in place since this generation debuted for 2016. Mildly reworked headlights, taillights (LEDs on the top Premier trim), and wheel designs will be tougher to spot. The RS package now borrows the black window surrounds, badges, and alloy wheels from the Redline package.

Inside is Chevrolet’s new Infotainment 3 system, which is a reskinned version of Cadillac’s latest version of CUE. It’s controlled by a 7.0-inch touchscreen that also responds to swiping gestures and is standard across the line. Higher trims with navigation can store and load user profiles from the cloud, allowing transfer of a driver’s home screen, audio presets, saved destinations, and contacts into any compatible Chevy. Wireless software updates and live traffic are also included. Elsewhere, the interior design is carryover, save for a new brown leatherette on the Premier and additional black trim on all models.

Chevrolet also is a little more generous with equipment. The Premier now adds automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection to the suite of driver assists (most of which aren’t available on lesser models) and standard automatic climate control. Remote start is now standard on the LT, and a heated steering wheel is a new option.

The two engines and two automatic transmissions stay the same, but the six-speed manual is no longer (GM cited a take rate of just a couple percent). The turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four with 153 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque pairs with a six-speed automatic, and Chevrolet is estimating its fuel economy as up to 40 mpg highway for the sedan, 38 mpg for the hatchback. The 137-hp 1.6-liter turbo-diesel with its sturdy 240 lb-ft is expected to offer even better fuel economy, at up to 47 mpg with the diesel-exclusive nine-speed automatic. That’s impressive, except the 2018 Cruze diesel sedan with the manual posted a 52-mpg highway rating.

Expect the first 2019 Cruze models on sale by the fall. In states like Michigan where front license plates aren’t required, they’ll look even better.

2019 cruze

DETROIT — Chevrolet says cars are still an important of the auto industry so it’s strengthening its car lineup with premium, sporty styling, enhanced features and expanded choices for the 2019 Malibu, Cruze and Spark.

The Chevrolet Cruze is built at the General Motors Lordstown Assembly Complex where 3,000 work.

Want to know more about the 2019 Cruze? Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630. Or, visit our website 24/7.

“We are committed to offering consumers a full lineup of products with fresh designs, new technologies and efficient powertrain options,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet, in a statement. “The investments we have made in Spark, Cruze and Malibu will help position the brand for success in competitive segments that still make up a significant part of the total industry.”

The 2019 Cruze, Malibu and Spark will offer a wide variety of trims, packages and models — from entry level to high end — to meet the needs of today’s car buyers.

Specifically, the 2019 Cruze will have an updated front fascia, new interior color options, a new infotainment system utilizing a standard 7-inch diagonal color touchscreen and expanded availability of remote start and automatic climate control, which are now standard on LT and Premier models.

The 2019 Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze and Spark go on sale later this year.

apr for up to 72 months PLUS Cash Back on select new 2018 Chevy models

We have over 93 different incentives going on this month so please don’t hesitate to contact us to figure out your maximum savings!

Here are just a couple of crazy-good specials to look at for:

Chevrolet is offering 0% apr for up to 72 months + $1,000 cash back on all new 2018 Trax and 2018 Cruze models. Or, select a new 2018 Malibu and receive 0% apr for up to 72 months and get $500 cash back.

Receive OVER $13,500 off MSRP on select new 2018 Chevrolet Silverado models. Or, choose 0% apr for up to 72 months AND $2,000 Cash Back. OR, check out GM’s amazingly low 229/mo. for 24 month lease special on Chevrolet Silverado.

Let us custom-tailor a lease just for YOU! *Based on MSRP of $43,480 4WD ALL STAR DOUBLE CAB for well qualified buyers. Includes conquest rebate. Plus tax, license and fees. Offer ends 4.30.18. See dealer for details or call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630.

New April Incentives!

GM has introduced some extremely attractive incentives for April. ^

0% apr for up to 72 months on new 2018 Suburban and Tahoe models.

Over 20% off MSRP on select new 2018 Cruze and Malibu models.

0% apr for up to 72 months AND $2000 cash back on select new 2018 Silverado Crew Cab and Double Cab models

2018 Equinox is offering an ADDITIONAL $2,500 Cash Back if you own a 1999 or newer NON-GM vehicle

Save an extra $2,000 on 2018 Chevrolet Trax if you own a NON-GM vehicle

Over $5,000 Cash Back PLUS discounts on select new 2018 Silverado models

0% x 72 AND $1,000 Cash Back on select new 2018 Cruze models

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If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630.

Visit our website 24/7 at http://www.WestphalChevy.com

Battery life of 2018 Nissan Leaf vs 2017 Chevy Bolt EV electric cars: what manuals suggest

It’s one of the major questions for any electric-car buyer: How long will the battery pack last?

And what would it cost to replace it if I do need a new one sometime down the road?

Now a new video looks at that question, comparing the different thermal-management technologies in the batteries of the new 2018 Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car.

Want to know more about the battery life of a Battery Life Nissan Leaf vs Chevy Bolt? Call our Customer Care Team now at 630-898-9630 or visit our website.

DON’T MISS: Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car: what’s inside the battery? Teardown video shows all

The presenter is John D. Kelly, a professor in the Auto Technology department of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

It’s one of several electric-car videos he’s done, including a recent pair on the removal and disassembly of the Chevrolet Bolt EV lithium-ion battery pack.

His presentations tend to be methodical, direct, and easy to follow, with a lot of detail presented in high-quality video.

The most recent presentation, running a bit over 7 minutes, is simpler than previous videos. Much of it is Kelly lecturing, in front of a Bolt EV on a lift.

He covers a lot of ground, though, starting with the active thermal management—meaning both heating and cooling—of GM’s battery packs in first the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid and then the Bolt EV electric car.

Then he dives into the history of the passively cooled Nissan Leaf batteries, though he doesn’t delve into the specific history around capacity loss in some pre-2015 Leaf packs.

CHECK OUT: Electric car battery warranties compared

He notes that the second-generation 2018 Nissan Leaf has a page in the owner’s manual that discusses issues that affect the temperature and life of the battery.

That advice includes not storing the car in hot environments, and not recharging the battery right after the car is used—which may be a surprise to owners who come home, plug in the car, and forget about it until the next morning.

It also discourages frequent use of the fast-charging capability.

He goes through a partial list of the factors that Nissan says can affect Leaf battery life, as covered by the manual.

Then he looks at the considerably fewer warnings that Chevrolet offers in its own manual on factors that affect the Bolt EV’s battery life.

Kelly’s summary concludes Chevrolet’s thermal management of its batteries is “far superior” to that provided by Nissan in the Leaf, both the previous generation and the new 2018 version.

Battery Life Nissan Leaf vs Chevy Bolt – READ THIS: Tesla Model S battery life: what the data show so far

Broadly, it now seems safe to suggest that electric-car batteries with active liquid cooling (and heating) seem to have lower rates of capacity loss—especially under extreme conditions—than do those that use only passive air cooling, such as the Leaf’s.

Aggregated data from batteries in the Tesla Model S, for instance, suggests that capacity loss is only on the order of 10 percent even after 100,000 miles.

Thanks for reading about Battery Life Nissan Leaf vs Chevy Bolt.

For more info view Source: Battery life of 2018 Nissan Leaf vs 2017 Chevy Bolt EV electric cars: what manuals suggest

Chevrolet Offering Big Discounts to Owners of Asian Car Brands Like Toyota, Honda, Mazda – The Drive

It’s called “conquest cash” for a reason, after all.

Last month, we here at The Drive highlighted Chevrolet’s attempts at pulling buyers away from performance rivals by knocking up to $15,000off the price of a brand-new Corvette. But now the automaker has a different enemy in its sights; Chevy, as it turns out is offering a substantial discount to owners of every Asian car brand in America.

Appropriately known as “conquest cash” in the sales business, the $2,500 incentive is available for buyers who own a Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, Scion, Suzuki, Isuzu, or Daewoo. (Yes, Daewoo.) The only catch is that the car must be from model year 1999 or newer.

Want to know more about “conquest cash”? Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 for details. Or, visit our website anytime.

(Note: We also have GM Loyalty Cash Back available on most new models in the month of March)

While $2,500 might not sound like a whole lot, it can be applied to any car or truck (base models excluded) and stacked on other available discounts, including the substantial Flex Cash program that provided the bulk of the big Corvette price cut in February. And you don’t even have to trade in your qualifying vehicle, according to Cars Direct.

As GM Authority points out, the Asian car discount also helps bring the price of a new Chevrolet Sonic down to under $12,000, making it one of the cheapest new cars on sale today.

Sales across the industry have plateaued or fallen this year, so it’s no surprise that Chevy would take such an aggressive approach in targeting its Japanese and Korean rivals. The automaker is also offering a slightly-less-sweet discount for owners of a whole host of other brands, including all domestic manufacturers, supercar makers like Ferrari and Lamborghini, and discontinued oddballs like Fisker, Panoz, and Saab.

Source: Chevrolet Offering Big Discounts to Owners of Asian Car Brands Like Toyota, Honda, Mazda – The Drive

2018 Chevrolet Trax Fleet

2018 chevrolet trax numbers

THE 2018 CHEVROLET TRAX – THE SMARTER-SIZED SUV

Built to be your business’s go-to vehicle for tackling the daily grind, the 2018 Chevrolet Trax delivers ample cargo room in an efficient and easy to maneuver package. Modern tech and available advanced safety features can help keep drivers safe and connected and when outfitted with the Fleet Convenience Package, Trax LS comes loaded with options such as power driver seat, cruise control, and other features that can make it a perfect fit for your fleet. Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit our website 24/7.

2018 chevrolet trax dimensions size

SAFETY

10 standard air bags⁵
Available Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning
5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for Safety⁶

VERSATILITY

Up to 48.4 cu. ft. of cargo volume³
4 standard cargo tie downs
Standard 138 hp turbo-charged engine
Available all-wheel drive

CONNECTIVITY

Support for Apple CarPlay^®7 and Android Auto^TM8
Available OnStar^®4G LTE™ Wi-Fi^®with built-in hotspot⁴
Available Fleet OnStar Service plans and Telematics options
Standard Chevrolet MyLink⁹ audio system with Bluetooth^®10capability

Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. The driver should remain attentive to traffic, surroundings and road conditions at all times. Visibility, weather, and road conditions may affect feature performance. Read the vehicle’s owner’s manual for more important feature limitations and information.

Your safety is very important to us. If you want to determine whether or not there is a recall on your current vehicle or on a vehicle you are considering, visit safercar.gov or call us at 630-898-9630.